The following is just a few of the many local volunteer opportunities available to SDS residents. These volunteer organizations and your participation help make Laconia and the Lakes Region a special place to live. Please add to or update this list by clicking on the link below:

Hands Across the Table

An all volunteer, non-profit organization which serves free dinners every Tuesday evening at St. James Episcopal Church in Laconia. Since the first meal on June 7, 2011, over 6000 guests have been served. Families, the homeless, seniors, people in financial stress, and anyone needing companionship are welcome. Local community and faith organizations share in sponsoring the dinners with many volunteers.

This is a free program and an opportunity to meet the command staff and members of the Laconia PD and hear about their roles and responsibilities. You will have an opportunity to do a ride-along and spend some time in court with the department prosecutor if you choose. It does not train you to do anything, just to be a better informed citizen. Check the website for more information and an application.

Volunteers are always needed in many areas. Contact the Volunteer office at 524-3211 ext. 6720. Check website for more information @ http://www.lrgh.org.

Leadership Lakes Region

Leadership Lakes Region is recruiting now for the Class of 2013. The program starts in October and runs one day a month for eight months. This is a wonderful way to meet some of the movers and shakers in the region and even at the state level. You will visit some of the human service, health care and educational programs and agencies in our own community, visit employers and spend a day on the lake. This program has a hefty tuition, generally paid by the employers who send their employee, non-profit and individual tuition is $500. More information and an application are on the website. http://www.leadershiplakesregion.org

Contact the following SDS members for more info: Mary Lou Anderson

LR-CERT (Lakes Region Community Emergency Response Team)

LR-CERT is a group of trained volunteers who provide support to public safety personnel for unplanned events. This program falls under the umbrella of the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health. The course is free, provides wonderfully useful information about personal emergency preparedness, will get you CPR/AED/First Aid trained, and does not require a commitment to apply to be a CERT member upon completion. The website provides more information about the CERT program and team and an application. http://www.lrpph.org/html/LR-CERT.html

This is an opportunity to become better prepared in an emergency. Volunteer opportunities can follow this class, if one is interested, but are not a requirement. The next Community Emergency Response class begins on 1/29/13 and runs each Tuesday evening for eight weeks, 6-8:30 pm at Laconia High School. Classes are free, there is no obligation to apply to become a CERT team member. Classes include CPR and First Aid training and are focused on helping individuals be more prepared for any emergency, and understand how the greater community responds to emergency situations and natural disasters. NEW CLASS STARTING JANUARY 29, 2013

Contact the following SDS members for more info: Mary Lou Anderson

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Walk MS event on May 10, 2014)

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is having a community Walk MS event this Saturday, May 10, at Opechee Park, and we are still looking to fill key volunteer roles. We are particularly looking for help with greeting, registration, and handing out water at our Rest Stops, but have a number of other roles for any interested individuals! Whether you have just a few hours or the entire morning, we'd love for you to join us to help continue the fight for a world free of Multiple Sclerosis. Please feel free to email or call our Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Flanders, at emily.flanders@nmss.org or 781-693-5138. We hope to see you on Saturday!